HP OmniBook

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OmniBook
OmniBook 6100 from 2001
Developer
TypeLaptop
Release date1993; 31 years ago (1993)
Lifespan
  • 1993–2002
  • 2024–present
PredecessorHP Vectra LS

OmniBook is a line of laptops sold by HP Inc. It was introduced in 1993 by Hewlett-Packard (HP Inc. before their 2015 split) as a business-oriented line of laptops and subnotebooks. It was discontinued following the acquisition of Compaq by Hewlett-Packard in 2002, with the Compaq Presario, HP Compaq, and HP Pavilion laptops succeeding the OmniBook line.

In May 2024, HP Inc. announced the revival of the OmniBook brand as part of a new brand nomenclature for its PC lines. The "Omni" brand is now used for all consumer PCs, with OmniBook for laptops, OmniDesk for desktop computers, and OmniStudio for all-in-one PCs.[1][2]

Models[edit]

Comparison table[edit]

HP OmniBook 800
Pop-up mouse of the OmniBook 800CT
HP OmniBook 2100
HP OmniBook XE3
Model
name 		Processor Clock speed
(MHz) 		Max. memory LCD technology LCD size and resolution Release date Ref(s).
300 AMD 386SX-LV 20 10 MB Monochrome STN (reflective) 9 in, VGA June 1993 [3][4]
425 TI 486SLC/e 25 10 MB Monochrome STN (reflective) 9 in, VGA November 1993 [5][6]
430 TI 486SLC/e 25 10 MB Monochrome STN (reflective) 9 in, VGA February 1994 [7][8]
530 Intel 486SX 33 12 MB Monochrome STN (reflective) 9 in, VGA June 1994 [9][10]: 240 
600C Intel i486DX4 75 16 MB Color STN 8.5, VGA November 1994 [11][12]
4000 Intel i486DX2 50 32 MB
  • 10.3, VGA (STN) or
  • 10.4, VGA (TFT)
 November 1994 [11][13][14]
600CT Intel i486DX4 75 16 MB Color TFT 9.5, VGA July 1995 [15]
5500CT Intel Pentium 100 or 120 64 MB Color STN 12.1, SVGA May 1996 [16]
5500CS Intel Pentium 120 or 133 64 MB Color TFT
May 1996 [16]
800CT Intel Pentium 133 48 MB Color TFT 10.4, SVGA September 1996 [17][18]
800CS Intel Pentium 100 48 MB Color TFT 10.4, SVGA September 1996 [17][18]
5000CT Intel Pentium 133 48 MB Color TFT 12.1, SVGA September 1996 [17]
5700 Intel Pentium MMX 150 or 166 160 MB Color TFT 12.1, SVGA April 1997 [19]
2000CT Intel Pentium MMX 133 64 MB Color TFT 12.1, SVGA June 1997 [20]
2000CS Intel Pentium MMX 150 64 MB Color STN 12.1, SVGA October 1997 [21]
  • 3000
  • 3000CT
  • 3000CTX
 Intel Pentium MMX 233 or 266 144 MB Color TFT 13.3, XGA November 1997 [22][23][24]
2100 Intel Pentium MMX 200 or 233 160 MB
12.1, SVGA April 1998 [25][26]
3100 Intel Pentium MMX 266 160 MB Color TFT 13.3, XGA April 1998 [25]
4100 Intel Mobile Pentium II 233 or 266 160 MB Color TFT
April 1998 [25][27]
7100 Intel Mobile Pentium II 266 288 MB Color TFT 14.1, XGA April 1998 [25][28][29]
Sojourn Intel Mobile Pentium II 233 64 MB Color TFT 12.1, SVGA April 1998 [a][30][31][32]
7150 Intel Mobile Pentium II 300 320 MB Color TFT 14.1, XGA September 1998 [33][29]
  • 4150
  • 4150B
 Intel Mobile Pentium II 300 256 MB Color TFT
October 1998 [34][27]
900
  • 300, 360 or 400 (Pentium II)
  • 450 or 500 (Pentium III)
 160 MB Color TFT
January 1999 [35][36]
900B
  • 300, 360 or 400 (Pentium II)
  • 450 or 500 (Pentium III)
 192 MB Color TFT
1999 [36]
XE
  • 266 or 300 (Pentium II)
  • 333 (Celeron)
 256 MB
  • 12.1, SVGA (SFN and TFT)
  • 13.3, XGA (TFT)
 February 1999 [37][38]
XE2
  • 300 (Pentium II)
  • 333 (Celeron)
 256 MB
  • 12.1, SVGA (SFN and TFT)
  • 13.3, XGA (TFT)
 May 1999 [39][38]
6000
  • 700 (Pentium III)
  • 550 (Celeron)
 128 MB Color TFT
May 2000 [40]
XE3
  • 933–1133 (Pentium III)
  • 933–1066 (Celeron)
 1 GB Color TFT
September 2000 [41][42]
500
  • 700 or 750 (Pentium III)
  • 600 (Celeron)
 512 MB Color TFT 12.1, XGA November 2000 [43][44]
6100 Mobile Pentium III 1133 512 MB Color TFT
August 2001 [45]
xt6200 Pentium 4 M 1700 1 GB Color TFT
March 2002 [46]
vt6200 Pentium 4 M 1700 1 GB Color TFT
March 2002 [46]
X Snapdragon X Elite 3400 (12 cores) 32 GB Color OLED (touchscreen) 14, 2.2K (2240 × 1400 pixels) May 2024 [47]

Notable models[edit]

OmniBook 300[edit]

OmniBook 300

The HP OmniBook 300 (OB300) is a subnotebook released in 1993 as one of the first models in the OmniBook line. It weighed only 2.9 pounds and measured 1.4 × 6.4 × 11.1 inches. It is powered by an AMD 386SX-LV processor, featured a full-size keyboard, a pop-up computer mouse (The same pop-up mouse was also used in OmniBook 800CT; see the image above), and a 9-inch VGA screen.[48][49][50] Due to storage limitations, the OmniBook 300 included both Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word pre-installed in ROM, which was and still remains unusual to this day.[51] It had two PCMCIA slots for additional memory, modem, network cards or other peripherals. One of its outstanding features was a technology known as "Instant On". It was sold in three storage configurations: no mass storage (F1030A at US$1,515), 10 MB flash memory disk (F1031A at US$2,375), or 40 MB hard drive (F1032A at US$1,950). Compared to the hard drive, the flash memory disk reduced the weight and storage capacity but increased battery life. It came with slimmed-down copies of MS-DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1. The "International English" version of the OmniBook 300 used code page 850 (rather than the more common code page 437) as hardware code page.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Badge-engineered Mitsubishi Pedion

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Cranz, Alex (May 20, 2024). "HP is simplifying its laptop lineup and embracing the AI PC". The Verge. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  2. ^ Harding, Scharon (May 20, 2024). "HP resurrects '90s OmniBook branding, kills Spectre, Dragonfly". Ars Technica. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Lee, Yvonne L. (June 7, 1993). "OmniBook speeds start-up, shutdown". InfoWorld. 15 (23). IDG Publications: 29 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Angus, Earl (December 20, 1993). "Hewlett-Packard OmniBook 300". InfoWorld. 15 (51). IDG Publications: 69 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Polilli, Steve (November 8, 1993). "HP touts infrared spec, unveils 486 OmniBook". InfoWorld. 15 (45). IDG Publications: 6 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ Bertolucci, Jeff (January 1994). "OmniBook Gets 486". PC World. 12 (1). IDG Publications: 80 – via the Internet Archive.
  7. ^ Lee, Yvonne L. (February 14, 1994). "HP will offer OmniBook sans ROM versions of Word, Excel". InfoWorld. 16 (7). IDG Publications: 14 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ Staff writer (April 1994). "More for Less, and Less for More". PC World. 12 (4). IDG Publications: 72 – via the Internet Archive.
  9. ^ Lee, Yvonne L. (June 13, 1994). "HP releases enhanced OmniBook 350". InfoWorld. 16 (24). IDG Publications: 40 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ Bass, Steve (September 1994). "Top Picks for the Home Office". PC World. 12 (9). IDG Publications: 239–240 – via the Internet Archive.
  11. ^ a b Zimmerman, Michael R. (November 21, 1994). "HP Adds Color, Full-sized Units to OmniBook Line". PC Week. 11 (46). Ziff-Davis: 53 et seq. – via Gale.
  12. ^ Caton, Michael (November 14, 1994). "OmniBook Elevates Subnotebook Class". PC Week. 11 (45). Ziff-Davis: 21 et seq. – via Gale.
  13. ^ Francis, Bob (November 14, 1994). "High-end HP OmniBook notebook debuts". InfoWorld. 16 (46). IDG Publications: 47 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ PC Portátil HP OmniBook 3100 Venta en 1 Minuto [HP OmniBook 2100 Laptop PC Sale in 1 Minute] (PDF) (in Spanish). Hewlett-Packard. 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 12, 2004.
  15. ^ Lee, Yvonne L.; Bob Francis (July 17, 1995). "NEC and HP add expansion options, memory". InfoWorld. 17 (29). IDG Publications: 16 – via Google Books.
  16. ^ a b "New notebooks: HP expands new OmniBook 5500 notebook PC line". EDGE. 7. EDGE Publishing: 19. May 27, 1996 – via Gale.
  17. ^ a b c April, Carolyn A. (September 16, 1996). "OmniBooks pack power lightly". InfoWorld. 18 (38). IDG Publications: 33 – via Google Books.
  18. ^ a b Letson, Russell (April 1997). "Lightweight, heavy power". Home Office Computing. 15 (4). Line56: 30 et seq. – via Gale.
  19. ^ Briody, Dan (April 21, 1997). "HP shifts mobile focus to manageability". InfoWorld. 19 (16). IDG Publications: 31 – via Gale.
  20. ^ Briody, Dan (June 2, 1997). "Dell, HP aim notebook lines at the desktop". InfoWorld. 19 (22). IDG Publications: 19 – via Google Books.
  21. ^ Staff writer (October 27, 1997). "New notebook: HP to extend value OmniBook Notebook PC line". EDGE. 8. EDGE Publishing: 11 – via Gale.
  22. ^ Girard, Kim (November 3, 1997). "Dell, HP target corporate users with thinner, lighter laptops". Computerworld. 31 (44). IDG Publications: 17 – via Gale.
  23. ^ Briody, Dan (January 19, 1998). "HP notebooks make corporate bid". InfoWorld. 20 (3). IDG Publications: 31 – via Gale.
  24. ^ HP OmniBook 3000 Reference Guide (PDF). Hewlett-Packard. 1998. pp. 9-3–9-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 28, 2007.
  25. ^ a b c d Briody, Dan (April 27, 1998). "HP's notebooks, PCs focus on manageability". InfoWorld. 20 (17). IDG Publications: 3 – via Google Books.
  26. ^ PC Portátil HP OmniBook 2100 Venta en 1 Minuto [HP OmniBook 2100 Laptop PC Sale in 1 Minute] (PDF) (in Spanish). Hewlett-Packard. 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 12, 2004.
  27. ^ a b HP OmniBook 4100/4150 Reference Guide (PDF). Hewlett-Packard. 1998. pp. 8-3–8-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2006.
  28. ^ Spooner, John G. (February 2, 1998). "OmniBook Refresher". PC Week. 15 (5). Ziff-Davis: 10 – via Gale.
  29. ^ a b HP OmniBook 7100/7150 Reference Guide (PDF). Hewlett-Packard. 1998. pp. 8-3–8-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 28, 2003.
  30. ^ Kvitka, Andre (March 30, 1998). "HP's Sojourn reaffirms 'thin is in'". InfoWorld. 20 (13). IDG Publications: 1, 99 – via Gale.
  31. ^ Staff writer (November 23, 1998). "Sojourn ends its travels". PC Week. Ziff-Davis: 6 – via Gale.
  32. ^ HP OmniBook Sojourn Troubleshooting Guide (PDF). Hewlett-Packard. 1998. p. 1-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 7, 2008.
  33. ^ Staff writer (September 9, 1998). "Raft of 300 MHz PII Notebooks Hits Market". Newsbytes. The Washington Post Company: NEW09090036 – via Gale.
  34. ^ Caton, Michael (November 2, 1998). "...But Latest OmniBook Doesn't Stand Out". PC Week. Ziff-Davis: 60 – via Gale.
  35. ^ Staff writer (January 18, 1999). "Pipeline". InfoWorld. 21 (3). IDG Publications: 29 – via Google Books.
  36. ^ a b HP OmniBook 900 Reference Guide. Hewlett-Packard. 1999. pp. 128–129. Archived from the original on June 14, 2016.
  37. ^ Staff writer (February 1, 1999). "Pipeline". InfoWorld. 21 (5). IDG Publications: 25 – via Google Books.
  38. ^ a b Tips for Using the OmniBook XE and XE2. Hewlett-Packard. 1999. pp. 43–46. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016.
  39. ^ Schwartz, Ephraim (May 3, 1999). "Customers clamor for mobile diversity". InfoWorld. 21 (18). IDG Publications: 16 – via Gale.
  40. ^ "HP Increases Computing Mobility, Unveils High-Performance HP OmniBook 6000 Notebook PC, Security and Wireless Initiatives". EDGE. EDGE Publishing: 1. May 1, 2000 – via Gale.
  41. ^ Thomas, Daniel (September 21, 2000). "HP to offer wireless LAN on notebooks". Computer Weekly. TechTarget: 60 – via Gale.
  42. ^ HP OmniBook XE3 Notebook PC (PDF). Hewlett-Packard. 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 30, 2003.
  43. ^ Popovich, Ken (November 13, 2000). "Hardware takes the stage". eWeek. QuinStreet: 20 – via Gale.
  44. ^ HP OmniBook 500 Notebook PC (PDF). Hewlett-Packard. January 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 1, 2003.
  45. ^ Neel, Dan (August 6, 2001). "Laptops sport new Intel chip". InfoWorld. 23 (32). IDG Publications: 20 – via Gale.
  46. ^ a b Shaw, Keith (March 11, 2002). "The arrival of Penium 4 notebooks". Network World. IDG Publications: 56 – via Gale.
  47. ^ Low, Cherlynn (May 20, 2024). "HP Omnibook X hands-on: Vintage branding in the new era of AI". Engadget. Yahoo! Inc. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024.
  48. ^ "HP Virtual Museum: Hewlett-Packard OmniBook 300, 1993". Hewlett-Packard. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  49. ^ "The OmniBook 600: Cute but Quirky". Cs.hmc.edu. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  50. ^ "Hardware". The HP Palmtop Paper. Thaddeus Computing. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  51. ^ "HP Computer Museum". Hpmuseum.net. Retrieved February 20, 2012.

External links[edit]

Official HP pages
Others
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